Gilbert artist to be part of Dec. 12 Ocotillo show in Chandler

The Chandler-based Ocotillo Artists Group features different artists periodically.

This month, landscape artist Curtis J. Jackson, who splits his time between Gilbert and Mountain View, Alberta, Canada, is featured.

The Ocotillo Artists Group hosts about three shows per year. The next one will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Holiday Inn at Ocotillo and Alma School roads in south Chandler.

The Dec. 12 show will likely include Jackson’s work.

Art wasn’t really something Jackson set out to do on purpose, but painting and thinking of himself as an artist has helped him focus and express his creativity with purpose, making a world of difference in retirement, he said.

Jackson enjoyed art classes when he was younger, but a career took priority and art fell by the wayside. He traveled enough to enjoy outdoor activities and beautiful places in nature, occasionally being pulled into a landscape.

After retiring, Jackson returned to oil painting he’d done years before, discovering a natural attraction to the medium and to getting those scenic places out of his head and onto canvas.

Jackson said he loves the detail, texture and rich, vibrant colors oils allow him to achieve. He said he especially enjoys when people stop and look “into” a painting because it speaks to them, draws them in, and looks like “somewhere they want to be.

His work spans rocky, cactus-filled desert landscapes and the lush, green waterscapes of the north.

Recently, Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease — a turning point for him and his family. Painting has become an important part of how he manages life with Parkinson’s, helping him feel calm and focused while giving him another way to observe his muscle control and vision.

Jackson doesn’t minimize how daunting the diagnosis can be. His message to others facing something difficult is simple.

“Keep challenging yourself with the things you can do, focus on the joy around you, and make time for yourself every day,” he said.
Some days, he says, the joy may feel very small—but it must be found and one must keep moving forward.

See Jackson’s work at curtisjjacksonart.com and at upcoming exhibits and OAG events.

See a schedule and links to members’ work at ocotilloartistsgroup.com.

The Ocotillo Artists Group is a collection of local artists from 13 neighboring areas in the East Valley who work in a variety of media.

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